AN Abergavenny optician who has completed marathons on both sides of the Atlantic is now preparing to cross the English Channel for her next challenge.

Jane Truscott, of The Optic Shop on Cross Street, has begun training for the Paris Marathon, which takes place next year on April 6.

Ms Truscott, 44, ran the first of nine marathons in Dublin in 1998 following her retirement from club and international rugby.

Since then she has also completed marathons in Cardiff, Brighton, London and most recently in California, USA, and has begun training five times a week with her two English springer spaniels, Crosby and BB in and around Abergavenny.

Her efforts have already raised nearly £2,000 for charity, including £1,700 for the Royal National Institute for the Blind in 2011 by running the London Marathon.

This time, however, she is one of more than 40,000 to gain a place in the event and will be running for the Abergavenny Blind Club which needs to raise around £2,500 a year to pay for transport costs. The club has 35 members who meet once a fortnight in Holy Trinity Hall, Baker Street.

Ms Truscott, who hopes to complete the 26-mile Le Marathon de Paris, in four hours, said: “A lot of our customers who get to a point in life when glasses won’t help, are registered with the Welsh Low Vision Service and through practitioners such as myself they get magnifiers that can help at home and outdoors.”

“They also get contact from Sight Support in Pontypool and the Abergavenny Blind Club.”

To sponsor Ms Truscott visit The Optic Shop, Cross Street or call 01873 855664.